The Coen Brothers need little introduction, their career up to this point speaks for its self, they've directed some of the the 90's and 00'most memorable movies, including Fargo, The Big Lebowski and their most recent hit Burn After Reading. The duo now bring us A Serious Man, Larry Nidus is a good and loving man, a university professor with a wife and children. When his wife approaches Larry asking for a divorce without giving him a valid reason, it begins a downward spiral in his life. Larry learns his wife has a new partner and that he's also facing disciplinary proceedings at work following a series of anonymous letters accusing the professor of various treacheries Larry's life has seen better times. Not everyone's life has a silver lining, sometimes it really just is that bad.

History has not been much kinder to Nixon the movie than it was to Nixon the man. Grossing under $14 million domestically, the $50 million movie was an enormous box office flop (what 1995-era family wouldn't want to go catch Nixon on Christmas Day?), though four Oscar nominations (it won none) must have softened the blow somewhat for auteur director Oliver Stone.

With Nixon, Stone struggles to present a thoughtful biography of one of history's most reviled leaders and the only President in modern times to voluntarily leave office before the end of his term. Richard Nixon of course needs no introduction, and Stone takes a much different approach to the material here than he did with JFK, which remains one of my favorite films ever. Rather than focus on a single incident -- Watergate -- Stone endeavors to encompass Nixon's entire life and career, from his days as a young Quaker (complete with dying brothers) to two big failed runs at political office to the entirety of his troubled political career. All the highlights are here, at least in part: Kent State, China, Vietnam and Cambodia, and of course the tragic events of Watergate.

The rich tradition of Jewish entertainment is explored through a slice of family life in this affectionate depiction of changing times. A portrayal that extends through several decades and continents, The Komediant is a well-rounded historical record of the Burnstein clan, a famous vaudeville act whose genesis sprang from rebellion when Pesach'ke Burstein left his Orthodox home in a quest to become an actor.

To get as complete of picture as possible of the theatrical lifestyle at the time, interviews with the remaining Burnstein family members are mixed with those of their peers and archival footage from their more popular shows. The various discussions and images provide an eclectic glimpse into the past, along with the interesting journey of just how the Burnsteins managed to carve themselves a piece of spotlight.